Duck & the Future

Yesterday
Going back to class was interesting. I feel as though I lost some time, ability, and energy, not studying for about a week. In the second class, I was the only student. So I struggled through the lesson, but had complete focus on me. At the end, I was thankful for the class and thankful it was over.

We had dinner with an exploratory group from Lipscomb at the famous Peking Duck restaurant:
Quan Ju De
Chaoyang
Area: Shuangjing (Inner E 3rd Ring Rd)
8 Guangqumen Outer. St, U-Space

58612288, 4007001864
Chinese only: www.quanjude.com.cn

This was to establish some understanding of what we do and what they are intending to do when they bring a group of students in late May.

On the way there and on the way home I tried to give a Bible to the taxi drivers, both said no thanks. These were the first two to refuse this gift.

Acts 25-28
The last section of Acts reads like a history book more than the Bible, yet Paul continues to heal and bless all those he is able. The Jews in Rome don't want anything to do with Jesus either.

Power of a Praying Husband - Future
Praying for Jaime to increasingly place her trust in God, knowing that he holds her heart, future, and everything in his hand. We can only truly rely on God for safety, health, and all that the future holds.

Prayer
Lord, bless Jaime and I with increasingly convicted hearts to trust you in every area of our lives; to know that you are our safety, security, and salvation! God thank you for blessing us with each other. Help us to put away all others, the memory of past relationships that invade our hearts and are being used by the devil to erode faith in one another and faith in you. Give us your blessings of joy, grace, and mercy towards one another so that we can honor you in our relationship as a witness for you.

Obedience Brings Joy!

Yesterday
In our travels from Shiyan to Beijing we were blessed to share the Word with about 12 people. We gave 10 Bibles marked with Genesis, Proverbs, and Matthew 5-7. Then we talked with them about who we are, what it means, and they asked some questions as well. Ding, a man of about 60 that is fluent in 5 languages, was happy to translate for us. One man finished reading Genesis before getting off the train. A woman wouldn't stop staring at us as Jaime and I were reading "I Married You, Not Your Family". She didn't understand, but had the typical foreigner curiosity look, but she had heard all that we were saying to the others. We gave her a Bible marked with Matthew 22 and 1 Corinthians 13, explaining the meaning of each as best we could. She read them and a little of some other things, then went back to staring at us.

A believing woman had prayed she would meet other Christians on the train. She has only been believing for a year, is not highly educated, and was very nervous. She wanted us to explain the deeper meanings of the Old Testament and the entire Bible in a few simple words. We mentioned the overall meaning - the OT is saying that Jesus will come, the NT is saying that Jesus has come; God is showing us how to be more loving, faithful, and forgiving throughout the Bible; and this all wasn't good enough. So I went on to describe the major themes of the sections in the Bible. She nearly ran away at this. My new translator friend said she was nervous, so I went to where she was and calmed her... telling her my story and giving her my email, phone number, and such. She was happy, thankful, and said she will get in touch with us later.

On the taxi ride home we talked with the driver, he said he might have free time on Sundays (sometimes he drives, sometimes he doesn't). So we invited him to our meeting. He seemed to be very interested and kept repeating the time of our meeting.

When we finally got home... we unpacked, showered, went online, and got some pizza.

Acts 12-24
I want to finish reading Acts before the New Year, so I read a lot on the train (even though it is so difficult to focus). These passages again talk about how quickly the people of this world turn from idol worship to worshipping men to wanting to kill them. People are easily set off, especially when there are large numbers. Group think can be very dangerous, it is more Mob Mentality. Paul was such a determined man, faithful even in the face of death. He was able to go from being stoned and beaten to quieting the crowd and commanding their attention... only to set them off again as they were disturbed by the message of Truth. I pray I can speak as boldly, as faithfully, and encourage others to do the same. (I do not pray for the same level of persecution for me or anyone!)

Power of a Praying Husband - Obedience
There is awesome joy in doing good! Obeying God provides blessings of confidence, increasing maturity, joy, greater meaning and purpose in life, great satisfaction, increasing understanding of the Spirit, and on and on the list could go.

Being obedient in actions, words, and thoughts is a daily challenge, a daily exercise of the will, mind, and emotions. It reminds me of the song "Be Careful Little Eyes" - the song could add a verse "be careful little heart what you feel," and another "be careful little mind what you think."

Prayer
God grant us the desire to be obedient in every way. God gives us the joy and many other blessings that go along with obeying your will for our lives. Guard our hearts and minds, discipline us to be faithful to you in our thinking, emotions, words, and actions.

Thank you Lord for being able to share your Word with so many on the train to Shiyan and returning to Beijing. God we pray that you will water those seeds, help them to grow, and bring them to a great harvest!

2008-12-27

Yesterday
We ate Re Gan Mian "Hot Dry Noodles" - which we both missed, but found to be more spicy than we remembered. Then again, everything we have eaten here is spicier than we remembered. Beijing food is just not as spicy and we are thankful. My stomach has been a little bothered by all this spice. I look forward to returning to Beijing's food.

We ate lunch at Happy Guy's with Barry, Trip, Trent, Jessica, and Angelyn. Happy Guy remodeled the "Eve" room, moved the door to the inside of the restaurant and blocked off the hole in the wall former covered by a nearly naked lady. It was good to go over to that side of town, talk with our friends, and visit their homes.

Jaime went to the orphanage with Trent & Jessica, and some of her students. Jaime was being kicked and punched by a child. She got the little boy to leave her alone and then as she was helping another child up, the boy threw a block at her head. She got a big bump on the side of her eye, the right eye. Now she has a bruise from a blood vessel bursting on her left eye and this bump and a little bruise on her right eye.

I came back to the school to try to resolve the issue with our things being stolen over the summer. Didn't really get anywhere. We are considering extending our stay another day so we can present the president with a letter of our concerns.

Acts 8-11
After Stephen is stoned, the persecution begins and the Christians go everywhere preaching and teaching about the power of Jesus. First to the Jews only, then to the Greeks and other Gentiles. Peter has his vision and "all" the Christians are welcoming non-Jews into God's family. I say "all" because there continue to be problems with Jews and non-Jews throughout Acts and the other letters Paul wrote.

Power of a Praying Husband - Deliverance
Deliverance from the past, addictions - strong and mild, bad dreams, depression, and all sorts of things. These struggles can truly hinder growing faith. They need to be addressed with prayer so that God can step into the heart and begin the healing process. Stormie describes this healing process as a birthing process that must be allowed to finish the gestation period so that the full deliverance can be accomplished.

Recently, I have been experiencing release from my past. In focusing on God, praying for Jaime and myself more purposefully, reading the Word, and sharing his love, I have now been able to stop bad dreams. In the midst of the dream, I am able to recognize them as terror, temptation, or testing and can take control of the situation and ask for God's forgiveness, blessing, or power to overcome the experience and be freed from the torturous time!

Prayer
God, I pray that you continue to work in our lives to set us free from the sins which keep us from increasing in our faith in you. I pray that you give us the awareness of your blessing, power, and the tools you have placed in our hands to overcome the Devil. Lord, bind Satan and allow your power to reign in our lives so that we may be transformed to transform others. Bless us with deliverance from our past, sin, temptations, addictions (whether strong or mild), and allow us to know you more, to love you more, to serve you more!

2008-12-26

Yesterday
We started out the day with trying to get back some things that were taken from our old apartment. Someone came into the apartment in the summer and took stuff that we had intended to give to our school's new teachers. We were quite frustrated with this, as we did what we were told, we made a list and gave it to the appropriate people. Apparently it became a shopping list.

Ms. Bai came over after I sent her a message that some things needed repairing or replacing in our old apartment, then I told her all that was missing.

We then walked over to John & Megan's apartment for some brunchy breakfast, movies, stocking exchange, and Settlers of Catan. It was a fun time for all.

We walked back to Zhi Zhou Wei to have dinner with Alex Wang. Then back to our apartment where a few old friends and students dropped in.

We went to bed around 9:30pm. Kelly (Jaime's sis) called around midnight. Diane was there and I think Joe was too. They talked for a while as I dozed in and out. My brother John called sometime around 5 or 6 am, it was dark, there were no watches or clocks nearby. He'll call back sometime when we are awake.

Acts 4-7
The early church was fabulously bold. They spoke out with passion, while doing acts of compassion. They preached to the religious leaders of the day, the opposition that wanted to kill them (and did at times), and definitely flogged the followers of Jesus. To speak out for the truth when others agree is simple, joyful, and without much risk. To speak out when many oppose the truth and are willing to harm others to protect their position, power, and prestige, that is altogether different.

Today in America there are many who oppose the truth. They want to remove God from all areas of life, relegate the truth to the privacy of your own personal closet. These folks are suggesting that it even be illegal to teach your children the truth. I find this to be just crazy. It is a little too much like the place I am now living. America is the land of the free. Here in the Middle Kingdom one is not allowed to teach another the Gospel until their above the age of 18. Is America going to so deny the creator, are people of faith going to surrender their God given duty to teach their children the truth, that we cannot proclaim the message to our own children? It is possible for this to happen... in one or two lifetimes.

Now there is increasing weakening in morality, many believers are continuing to loosen the foundation of faith. Many people are dismissing (a little at a time) the truths presented in God's Word, when they should be boldly proclaiming the Word of God.

Power of a Praying Husband - Work
Praying for God's blessings to abound in Jaime's work, compensation, devotion to family, and God's continuing revelation of Jaime's developing talents and abilities. May God guard her heart against pride and competition, may God be glorified in all that she does!

Prayer
God bless this world to know you. Bless your workers to have greater boldness in sharing the Gospel no matter their culture, comfort, or critics.

2008-12-25

Yesterday
I didn't read or pray, we were on the train coming to Shiyan. It wasn't convenient (that is sad). I should have been more disciplined. I had the time.

Now we are here and have no Internet connection. I am praying the school will gladly restore the Brelands Internet connections or Brad will allow us to share his for a few days.

Our travels were fabulous! We made friends with the taxi driver that brought us to the train station in Beijing, gave him a Bible, and invited him to church. He works six days a week, 13 hours a day, taking Sundays off. I asked if he had time to come to our meeting, he said he did, and would attend the next Sunday.

Then on the train, we met a couple married for just four days. The husband is Islamic, the wife has no faith, but the husband says she is now Islamic too. We gave them a Bible marked with Proverbs, Matthew 5-7, Ephesians 5 (which they read right away), and a section on how to become a Christian.

We marked 7 Bibles with Proverbs, Matthew 5-7, and how to become a Christian. We gave them to the above mentioned people, a total of 5 people on the train.

Meeting us at the train station were Brad Forgy and Alex Wang, they are the faithful greeters of Shiyan. We went to our old home to find the TV has been missing for a month, being repaired, but otherwise the apartment was mostly as we left it (of course, minus a lot of stuff we gave to the new teachers).

We ate dinner at Brad & Min's... there were supposed to be other teachers too, but they all had something else to do. Min cooked a lot of food and was pretty sad that people didn't show up and stick around to eat.

We then went Christmas Caroling around campus. We met up with old students and made some new friends along the way.

John 21 - Acts 3
John does not include the "let this cup pass" prayer of Jesus, instead he has very lengthy prayers about the glory of God, unity of the disciples and all believers, and God's blessing and protection for Jesus' disciples. Why?

Power of a Praying Husband - Desires
Hobbies and interests are important for a marriage. If a couple has similar interests then they will spend more time together, if they are increasingly interested in he same things, then they are growing together.

Prayer
I am praying for our desires to be God's desires for us. We need to put his desires first in our lives, then we can grow in his blessings.

In Shiyan

I am in Shiyan, there is no internet connection in my home. I will be posting when I return to Beijing or when they let me have internet in my old house.

Protection and Health

Yesterday
Sunday night, Jaime was rubbing her eye because it itched. Then a reddish bubble quickly appeared just below her left eye. Monday morning she went to the local clinic. It turned out to be a blood vessel that ruptured, now it has dissipated but it looks like she has a black eye.

Team meeting was just me and the Jacksons. Jaime was worn out from our very busy weekend and having a stomach bug didn't help. The Rodriguez family stayed home, Marcus had a presentation to prepare and they will have their big Christmas party on Wednesday night. We talked and prayed about our growing fellowship, the availability of the Christmas meeting place, and many other possibilities.

Jessi flew in from Danjiangkou, Xiangfan airport, arriving at midnight. We talked till about 1am. I was falling asleep well before that, around 8:30 in fact.

John 17-20
These verses stood out today:

John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 17:11, I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

John 17:20-21, My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:25-26, Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

In chapter 18, Jesus doesn't heal the high priest's servant.

John knew the high priest quite well and the servant girl at the door is the first to question Peter.

John 18:15-17, Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."

John 18:28-29 - The Jews wanted to eat the Passover so they wouldn't go into Pilate's house.

Jesus is questioned by Pilate, but check out his answers and the response of Pilate:

John 18:33-40, Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

How does Pilate decide to have Jesus flogged? Then He goes back to him...

John 19:8-14, When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.

"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

Joseph and Nicodemus bring 70 pounds of spices to prepare the body of Jesus... Then Mary comes on Sunday with even more!

Power of a Praying Husband - Protection
God is the one that keeps us safe. We must always pray for God's protection and live like we are safely under his wing, but that doesn't allow us to live recklessly. Car insurance rates are higher for preachers than teachers because they drive more wildly than others and get in more crashes apparently... is it saying something about their personality or about their belief of God's protection? Either way, we all need to live in his protection without abusing it, the same as we do with his grace. Grace motivates us to live a more perfect life, protection should motivate us to live a more responsible life.

This chapter also talks about praying for Jaime's health. Stormie compares wives to cars... they need to keep their body tuned up, clean, well exercised, and ready to run.

Praying for Jaime's protection and health are vital to her continuously living in God's richest blessings.

Prayer
God help us to be ready on all occasions for responsible and healthy lifestyles. Protect us from harm in all situations, especially spiritual temptations and plots of Satan to destroy our relationship with you and one another. Keep us safe and healthy no matter where we are, so that we may have more opportunity to love and serve others with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.